ERHC Energy Inc (ERHE)

[RubyMartin]

Cocoa exports fall in Sao Tome and Principe [ 2007-10-23 ]


Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, 23 Oct – Sao Tome and Principe netted just over US$1 million from cocoa exports in the first half of 2007, which accounted for 97.1 percent of the country’s exports in that period, according to the archipelago’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), cocoa exports saw a year on year fall of 0.9 percent against the same period of 2006.

In terms of quantity, there was a fall of 15.9 percent in the period with cocoa exports falling from 966.4 tons in the first half of 2006 to 812.7 tons in the first half of 2007.

In the list of exports from Sao Tome and Principe in the first half of 2007, following cocoa, are coconut and coconut flowers and coconut oil.

The list of buyers of Sao Tome cocoa in the period was headed by the Netherlands, which purchased 275 tons, followed by Portugal, with 232 tons and France with 149 tons.

Cocoa was introduced by Portuguese colonists to Sao Tome in the 19th century and its production levels have been falling over the last few decades due to lack of land on which to grow it, lack of financing and a lack of rigour in the treatment of the plantations. (macauhub)